US-based battery inspection technology startup Liminal has closed a $10-million strategic investment round led by LG Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of South Korean conglomerate LG Group. The round also included new investment from Taiwanese firm Chailease Holdings as well as participation by current investors including ArcTern Ventures, University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners,… Read more…

SAE International, a US-headquartered global standards organization and association of mobility professionals, has released a new report: SAE J3400TM: NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler Technical Recommended Practice (RP). It establishes a framework for EV charging in North America that includes physical, electrical, functional, safety and performance requirements for the rollout of the standard later this year…. Read more…

Electronics manufacturer LG Business Solutions has begun taking orders for its first Level 3 DC charger available in the US, the model LG EVD175SK-PN. Production of the stand-alone unit is set to begin this fall at the company’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The unit provides fast charging of up to 175 kW. It features… Read more…

Caterpillar has announced that, to meet customers’ current and future needs, it is designing a modular Cat 793 large mining truck platform that will include diesel-mechanical, diesel-electric and battery-electric powertrain options. The company also plans to leverage expertise gained from its Early Learner battery electric large mining truck program to extend common platform benefits to… Read more…

Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanché has supplied two of its INT-53 ENERGY battery packs for the Madrid Metro system’s new hybrid track repair locomotive, which was custom-built by Uromac, a Spanish road-rail machines and vehicles manufacturer. It marks the first time that lithium-ion battery technology has been integrated into the Metro’s infrastructure. Collaborating on the project… Read more…

Sponsored by DuPont. The automotive industry is rapidly evolving, and electric vehicles are at the forefront of this transformation. Continued EV adoption hinges on several key factors: reducing costs, building a robust charging infrastructure, and designing efficient, durable battery packs with longer-range and fast-charging capabilities. As automakers strive to match the cost and efficiency of… Read more…

US-based coolants and corrosion protection fluids supplier Prestone Products has introduced three low-conductivity, corrosion-protectant thermal management fluids to meet upcoming industry specifications for EV coolants. The products include a new silicate organic inhibitor technology EV thermal management fluid that meets specifications such as the EV coolant-specific GB29743.2 standard, which is aimed at enhancing safety. The… Read more…

Italy-based ZAPI Group has introduced a new 9 kW ZIVAN-branded SG9 industrial charger for off-highway vehicles and machines. The flexible off-board fast charger can be configured for a variety of AC input sources for deployment around the world, as it is compatible with single- and three-phase voltages. It offers multiple charge voltages ranging from 36… Read more…

Toyota Motor will invest an additional $500 million in Joby Aviation, a producer of electric vertical landing and takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft.  The investment is intended to support certification and commercial production of Joby’s new electric air taxis, which the two companies view as “the future of air travel.”  Toyota views the investment as a continuation… Read more…

US EV fast charging network Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America, and California-based trucking company 4 Gen Logistics, have installed 14 hyper-fast chargers to support 4 Gen’s fleet of Class 8 drayage trucks. 4 Gen’s facility in Rialto, California, is part of a broader initiative to reduce Southern California tailpipe emissions, particularly… Read more…

Finnish EV charger manufacturer Kempower has signed a sales and service partnership agreement with Croatian electrical, transport and energy company KONČAR to advance the availability of EV charging across Central and Southeastern Europe. Under the agreement, KONČAR will procure, distribute and install Kempower’s DC charging equipment for customers that include CPOs, public transport operators, port… Read more…

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Australian mining and metals company South32 to negotiate a $166-million funding award for its Hermosa project in Arizona. Souh32 is developing the project at its Clark deposit to produce battery-grade manganese from locally sourced ore for the North American EV market. The grant from the DOE’s Battery… Read more…

France-headquartered Aramine, an underground mining equipment manufacturer and services provider, has released its latest battery-powered machine, the L440B Loader.  The L440B offers an enhanced tramming capacity of 4.6 t compared to the 1.3 t capacity of its precursor, the L140B miniLoader, which was launched in 2016. Plans call for a 5-ton payload version to follow…. Read more…

Cincinnati-headquartered school transportation provider First Student has introduced its First Charge above-ground EV charging system, which is designed to offer greater efficiency and up to 50% lower construction costs.  Even in colder climates, the system eliminates the need for expensive trenching to bury cables, which is disruptive and limits future expansion.   The system can support… Read more…

Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks and Germany-headquartered specialized vehicle manufacturer ROHR Spezialfahrzeuge have partnered to produce the Mercedes-Benz eEconic helicopter refueling tanker, which has been deployed by Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth, Germany.  The 16,500-liter-capacity tank body, manufactured by ROHR Spezialfahrzeuge, was integrated with the base vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks. The 11-meter-long base vehicle can easily maneuver… Read more…

Canada-based underground mining equipment manufacturer MacLean will supply 30 of its GR8 EV graders to Australian metal mining company Fortescue for its surface mining operations in Western Australia.  The units will be powered by Fortescue Zero battery power systems. Delivery is slated to begin in 2026, and the full fleet is expected to be operational… Read more…

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) program has released a draft roadmap to improve processes for interconnecting clean energy resources to the distribution and sub-transmission grids. The draft document provides stakeholders with 37 solutions organized around: increasing data access, transparency and security for interconnection; improving interconnection processes and timelines; promoting economic… Read more…

Sponsored by TTI. Whether for the BMS or motor control, here are the key specs to understand whensourcing these critical EV components. Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity and market share, and electric current is the fuel of the future. Current sensors are a critical component of today’s EVs, serving two primary applications according… Read more…

UK-based Durakool, a manufacturer of power-switching components, has introduced three new products for the EV market. The DG82M is a micro-ISO automotive plug-in relay featuring magnetic arc blowout technology. It is optimized for DC switching, capable of handling up to 3 A 110 VDC for 100,000 cycles and 7 A 110 VDC for 20,000 cycles…. Read more…

Germany-headquartered Alltrucks, a provider of commercial vehicle maintenance and repair services, and truck manufacturer SANY eTrucks, a division of China-headquartered heavy equipment manufacturer SANY, are joining forces to provide truck repair services. SANY’s eTrucks customers in Europe will be able to receive services from Alltrucks’ network of more than 700 workshops in 13 European countries…. Read more…